The California Golden Bears are 7-2 straight up in their last nine season openers and are 2-0 against the spread in their last two. The Golden Bears will kick off the 2016 college football season facing off against the Hawaii Warriors down under in Sydney, Australia this Friday night at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Cal vs. Hawaii odds: Golden Bears open 2016 as huge favorite in Australia
The Golden Bears and Warriors meet for the first game of the 2016 college football season in Sydney, Australia on Friday night.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
California is a 20-point favorite over the Warriors at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. In their last three games as a favorite of 20 points or more, the Bears are 3-0 SU and ATS.
Last season, the Golden Bears stormed out of the gate to a 5-0 SU and 3-2 ATS record before eventually losing each of their next four games. The Bears ended their season on a high note with a 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS record including a blowout win over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Grad transfer Davis Webb will be tasked with replacing Jared Goff at quarterback, and will do so with all six of last year’s top receivers also needing to be replaced. Cal had one of the top offenses in the country last season averaging 37.9 points per game.
Betting Line / Total: California -20 / 64 Points
Cal is 3-0 ATS in its last three games as a favorite of 20 points or more.
The total has gone UNDER in seven of Cal’s last 10 games.
Hawaii has lost 18 straight games as an underdog of 20 points or more and is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 such games according to the OddsShark College Football Database. In the team’s last three games as this big of an underdog, the Warriors have been outscored a combined 121 to 0.
Under head coach Norm Chow, the Warriors had one of the most anemic offenses in the country, compiling a record of just 11-39 SU since the start of the 2012 season. After enjoying success as an offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Hawaii and most recently Nevada, Nick Rolovic will make his head coaching debut this season and try to infuse some much needed offense back into the program.
Hawaii ended last season on a 1-9 SU and ATS skid, and hasn’t recorded more than four wins in a season since 2011.
Friday’s total is set at 64 points. The UNDER is 7-3 in California’s last 10 games and 13-5 in Hawaii’s last 18 games with a total set at 63 points or higher.
California’s talent edge should push the Golden Bears to a win in Sydney, but whether or not they are able to cover the spread will likely come down to how quickly Cal’s new offensive personnel can gel.
California Golden Bears vs. Hawaii Warriors
When: Friday, August 26, 10:00 p.m. ET
Where: ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia
